Arch-supporting shoe.



M. F. KELLEY.

ARCH SUPPORTING SHOE. APPLxcATloN HLED JULY 29.1912.

1,177,777. Patented Apr. 4,1916.

(Maw/XV /ww/ E t MICHAEL F. KELLEY, 0F STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

' ARCH-SUPPORTING SHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application led July 29, 1912. Serial 1 o. 71,975.

To all whom it may concern.' i

Be it known that I, MICHAEL F. KELLEY, a citizenof the United States, and resident of Stoughton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arch- Supporting Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

Numerous attempts have been made to remedy broken arches so-called.,and tothis end numerous arch supports of various kinds have been suggested or produced, the same to be employed inside of the shoe so as to directly engage 'and support the under portion of the foot. In manyinstances, these have proved to be not only exceedingly uncomfortable but have failed in their purpose. I have found that, as a practical matter, vthe best results can be secured by so constructing the shoe that the necessary support is afforded thereby, and to this end I use a. resilient spring located exteriorly of the shoe under the shank, springs being supplied in varying degrees of curvature vand stiffness for people of different weight. By thus locating the arch-supporting spring, the shoe is made much more comfortable, may be fitted accurately on the wearers foot, and may be caused to [it well into the arch and support it.

On the accompanying drawingswFigure 1 illustrates a shoe embodying the invention. Fig. 2 represents a bottom view ofthe same. Fig. 3 illustrates the sole prior to the attachment of the upper. Fig. 4 illustrates one of the arch-supporting springs. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 and shows means for securing the spring in place.

It will be understood that the yinvention is applicable not only for MacKay sewed shoes but also for` welt shoes, the illustration of the shoe in Fig. 1 being substantially conventional, merely for the purpose of illus-.

trating `the location ofthe fastener for securing'the spring in place. As'thus shown, the 4shoe includes the sole a, the insole 'b and heel c. In constructing the shoe, at a point substantially midway between its ends or near the ball of thefoot, a hole 10 is formed in the tread surface ofthe sole, and then, by

' amilling cutter or other tool a groove 11 1s formed, the groove lying substantially in the median line of the sole and extending to a point where it will be covered by the heel, so that when the shoe is formed, the slot or groove will be located under the arch. After the sole has been molded into shape and the upper has been attached in either of the usual ways, aspring d is placed in the groove so as to lie flush with the surface of the sole. This spring is preferably made of steel and is preferably nickel-plated so as not to detract from the appearance of the shoe. At one end, the spring is provided with a depressed annulus d which tits in the hole 10, and this end of the spring is fixed in place by any suitable form of fastening device. A fastener which I may` employ is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 consisting of two complemental members c and f. The member e consists of a. stud having a head 12 and an internally threaded shank 13; and

the member f consists of a screw adapted to through an 'aperture (Z2 in the spring and to be screwed into the shank of the member e. The head 14 of the member f is thus located within the annular socket formed in the spring so that it is flush with or above the surface of the sole. The insole may be formed with a shallow hole to receive the head 12 so that the head will lie flush `with the insole. To prevent the passage of water through the aperture thus formed in the bottom of the shoe, I use a washer g of rubber or other material, shown in Fig. 5. lVhen the heel is secured in place., the free end of the vspring is supported thereby but is free to move relatively to the heel, and the heel end of the shoe. To prevent its binding, the `:free end of the spring has a sliffhtly curved portion d3. l

Iy varying the curvature ofthe spring, it will be apparentfthat the shank portion of the shoemay be caused to assume any degree of curvature so that the arch portion of the foot will be properly supported by the shank of the shoe; and, by varying the thickness or degree of elasticity of the springs, the shoes maybe adapted for persons of different weights. As the pressure upon the spring increases and decreases, as when a person is walking, the free end of 'the-spring may slip vback and forth in its socket so that the shoe possesses a marked degree of fiexibility.

While I have described the spring as ibeing attacaed to the shoe in the process of manufacture thereof, it is quite apparent that merely by removing the heel, any shoe already manufactured may be equipped with my arch supporting sprinff, the nreel being subsequently replaced.

'It will be understood that in any event the springs are strong enough to bend the leather :sole so as to cause it to assume substantially the curvature of the spring itself.'

By reason of the ease with which these.

springs may be attached and detached. it is apparent that a perfon suffering with a badly broken arch may have his shoes from time to time equipped with springs of greater curvature so that the inetatarsal arch will be g adually caused to assume a nornai position. This may be accomplished by the wearer of the shoe without the necessity of taking the shoe to a cobbler or shfanialter, since the only tool -required for the attach ment or detachment ot' the spring is an ordinary screwdriver.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way ol malcing and using the saine, although without attemptingr to forth ali of the forms in which it may be inade or all of the modes of its use, what I claim is: l

1. The ccmbination with a shoe, of a spring metal arch support arranged against the lower surface of the outsole, and a detachable fastener arranged to fasten the front end ot' said support to the out-sole., the rear end ol' said support being arranged between the heel and the heel-seat of said out sole and being capabe of slipping l0ngitu dinally to compensate tor iexure.

Q. A shoe comprising in combina-tion, a heel, an outsole haring a recess in its lower surl'ace extending long fitudinall)7 in the shank portion to a point in the rear of the breast of said neel, a spring metal arch support arranged in said recess, and a fastener arranged to fasten the front end of said support to said outsole, the rear end of said support being capable oi' slippingr longitudinally to compensate for llexure.

3. An arch-supporting shoe, comprising an outer sole, and a heel7 the outer face of the .shank of thel sole being groored substantiall \r from the ball to apoint above the heel, a denn-liable arch-supporting spring located in said groore with a tree. end between the heel and outer sole, said springr having a recess at its other end, a removable jfastener passed through said spring into said sole and having a head located in said recess, and a flat head on the interior of the shoe..

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature. in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL F. KELLEY.

Witnesses:

Maures B. MAY, I. lV. Pizzzic'r'rr. 

